News Coverage

VOICE is committed to fair and democratic media representation through all forms of Information and Communication Technologies. VOICE recently acquired a video production kit, including an editing suite, and has already produced 2 video documentaries. VOICE also continues to be visible in the news. In the News Coverage section, there is a selection of articles written about VOICE or VOICE activities over the last 5 years.

Immunity of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) should be rescinded forthwith to ensure accountability of the international financial institution, speakers demanded at a roundtable discussion yesterday. The special tribunal should scrutinise ADB's operations in the country, the speakers also demanded. VOICE organised the discussion on "Hear the Unheard: A Reality Check of ADB's Operations in Bangladesh" at the Conference Lounge of the National Press Club. Prof Anu Mohammad of Jahangirnagar University (JU), Hasanul Haq Inu, President of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), Saiful Haque, General Secretary of Workers Party of Bangladesh, Md Shamsoddoha, Secretary of Equity and Justice Working Group, Zakir Hossain and Aminur Rasul, among others, attended the roundtable.

Referring to Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) of ADB as a sugar coated bitter pill, Anu Mohammad said the main purpose of the ADB is to exploit the people of Bangladesh rather than remove poverty from the country.

Jonoganatantra Andolon, a social organisation, on Wednesday demanded that the government ensure the security of Professor Anu Muhammad. It also demanded a proper investigation into the death threat to Anu Muhammad and the trial of those responsible. The five-point demand, which was placed at a press conference in Dhaka, also includes restoration of a democratic environment, freedom of expression, active role of the state in ensuring the security of the citizens and ensuring human rights including the right to participate in political, cultural and economic activities.

The Global Economic Justice Forum has urged the people to be united against the harmful global policies imposed on the country. The forum suggested that the policies for 'people's globalisation' should be given more emphasis than trade globalisation, which protects corporate interests only. It also recommended creation of a new world order which will ensure food for all.

Foreign aid should be free of conditionalities and donors or lenders must be accountable to the people and governments of recipient countries, rights campaigners said on Thursday. External finance only accounts for two per cent of the country’s gross domestic product, and 75 per cent of the foreign money goes back to donor countries and lending agencies in the forms of consultancy fees and payments for foreign procurements, said Piyash Karim, professor of economics at a private university.